Nine is fine

Was it only March that I posted about Samantha's 8th birthday and here I am posting about her 9th birthday already? I guess that just means it only took me not quite 3 months to write about her birthday this time instead of nearly 9! I am so on top of things!!! Go me.

First off, how saintly is my mother? I hadn't even asked her to help when I got this text message the day before Samantha's party. She just knew I'd need and gratefully accept the help. She amazes me and I hope I can be even the tiniest bit like her.


Samantha wanted to start her day off with a special breakfast, so I made her some "Cinnamon Snails" from a kids' recipe book we'd been using. (More about that in a future post!)


She'd been talking and talking and talking for MONTHS about having a "Tom and Jerry" party when she turned 9. So I found all I could online to print up T & J invitations and a poster for the front door and a "Put the cheese in Jerry's hand" blindfolded party game. The girls also started the party by doing coloring pages of Tom and Jerry. They were all so funny about using just the right colors for the cartoon cat and mouse!


Present time included lots of art supplies and animals and sometimes a combination of the two. She is so into both things that she was very excited. Here she is with a cake decorating kit we got her.


For her cake we frosted it yellow to make it look like a big wheel of cheese and I printed off pictures of Tom and Jerry to stick on the top. (Jerry might have started on fire as she blew out her candles, but we managed that little mishap as it went out on its own, thankfully!)


Feasting on birthday "cheese" cake!


The kids always get excited to see what cards Grandma and Grandpa Wilkins will make for them on their birthdays. And they don't mind the money either!


For dinner we munched on pizza. I know. I am a gourmet cook, right?


One of the best things about her birthday this year is that Samantha did such a good job looking at the camera! It seems like a little thing to most, but we were so excited she did it! Isn't her smile cute here?



Here she is with the "loot" from the day. The mermaid Barbie is a fun present because she wanted a very specific one and we thought we'd gotten it. Then I asked her about it before we gave it to her and she said something about how the mermaid's tail turned into a hood. So her sweet daddy went out to another store to find just the right one even though it was more money and already late in the evening. What a guy!


And now, some of my favorite pictures of her from when she was 1.

When she was 13 months old we went with Ross's brother, Curtis, to a nice Italian restaurant in California. The staff did not look pleased with us when they saw Samantha in our arms. But she totally charmed all of them and they even gave us a complimentary dessert because they loved her so much! (Just look at that big, cute grin! You would have given us free dessert too, right?)


I put her wisps of hair up in permanent wave rods one day because I have a picture of when my mom did the same thing to me as a baby.


On a visit to my brother Jeff's house, she really enjoyed her pancakes and syrup one morning!


Everyone called her Boo (even strangers!) so there was no other Halloween costume option that year!


Samantha with our friend Rena Dandy in Monument Valley. Rena made the BEST fry bread. EVER.

Ross's brother Blaine and his wife Charity and their little boys came to visit us in Monument Valley in December 2003. Their skateboard came along too so that I could get one of my favorite shots ever of my girl.


We went to the girls basketball tournament in Emery County Utah when Ross was coaching. These cute girls were in the room next to ours. Vincynthia, Oskiana, LaTonna, and Mallory.


I loved, loved, loved Strawberry Shortcake when I was a little girl, so obviously I love, love, love this adorable little girl in this adorable little outfit.


Samantha at her first major league baseball game. GO ANGELS!

Love you, my 9 year old Samantha!!!